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It can be a bit of a conundrum: you want the appliances you use in your home to be energy-efficient, but upgrading to the new, slick models requires manufacturing that new model, which means more energy for creating, assembling, and shipping the appliance. And if your refrigerator, for example, is working just fine as it is, how can you tell when it's time to make the switch to a new model?
Comparing the carbon emissions and energy costs from your older, less efficient model to the materials and energy costs of creating a new one is sort of an apples-to-oranges equation, but, according to Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, when it comes to refrigerators, "If its avocado or brown-colored, its time to retire it."
More specifically, the equation for refrigerators tips in favor of a new model at about 15 years of age, according to Energy Star and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Energy Star, which is overseen by the EPA and Department of Energy, updates its standards pretty regularly, both encouraging and rewarding the increased efficiency that can accompany better technology; the most recent update was 2001, and the next one is scheduled to go into effect in 2014. To earn the Energy Star label, products generally have to be 20 to 30 percent less energy than their conventional counterparts.
Energy Star can also tell you how much you can expect to pay, in energy costs, for a new appliance, versus what you're paying right now. If your refrigerator came from the the 1990s or before, you're likely paying over $100 per year to run your fridge; a new, Energy Star-certified model will likely cost about half that to operate.
The New York Times had an interesting look at this process last weekend; there's lots more to learn at Energy Star, and you can start shopping for a new one (if it's time) at the Planet Green Shop.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Read more about green appliances in Planet Green
Repair or Replace (and Recycle): Your Refrigerator
Repair or Replace (and Recycle): Your Clothes Dryer
Repair or Replace (and Recycle): Your Washing Machine
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